Pentagon: Navy Mishandles Sex Cases

October 22, 1990|By The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — The Navy has a serious problem with rapes, sexual assaults and violations of "fraternization" rules at its sprawling training center in Orlando, Fla., but often has failed to seek appropriate punishment for the offenders, according to a Pentagon investigation.

In the 18 months that ended June 30, the Navy's inspector general reported there were at least six rapes of female students or recruits at the Orlando Naval Training Center, but the Navy has not prosecuted any individuals.

During the same 18 months, female recruits at Orlando - which includes the Navy's only boot camp for women - reported 24 rapes or sexual assaults. Navy law enforcement officials "substantiated or resolved" eight of the rape cases and five instances of sexual assault - including indecent exposure and attempted rape - the report said. Investigators concluded that two of those who said they were raped had made false statements. Only one of the 13 cases, an assault case, resulted in court-martial proceedings.

According to the inspector general's report, which was provided to The Washington Post in response to a request, the Navy's failure to take appropriate action against offenders in numerous sex-related cases at the Orlando training facility has contributed to an atmosphere that makes women "feel like they are second-class members of the Navy."

In at least three of the sexual assault cases, the men involved were supervisors or instructors of the women who said they were attacked, according to the Navy's inspector general.

In another 13 cases between January 1989 and June 1990, supervisory officers or instructors allegedly violated Navy "fraternization" rules by having social or sexual relationships with young female recruits, the investigation found.

Many of the men involved in both the sexual assaults and the fraternization cases were noncommissioned officers in supervisory roles, the report said.

The investigation found that some alleged offenders were returned to their jobs and continued working near the victims, that others were transferred from Orlando or released from the Navy - avoiding prosecution - and that some victims may have been so intimidated by investigators that they did not press charges.

The inspector general's report, which has provoked bitter conflicts within the Navy, highlights some of the most sensitive and controversial issues facing today's all-volunteer military and its growing percentage of female personnel.

About 11 percent of the military's 2.1 million active-duty officers and enlisted personnel are women. The Navy, in the past year, has been placed under the harshest scrutiny of any service for its treatment of women because of a series of alleged rapes and incidents of sexual harassment at the Naval Academy in Annapolis and two recent rapes of female service members aboard naval ships.

The Navy's chief of education and training, Vice Adm. John S. Disher, characterized the problems cited at the Florida training center as occurring "throughout the entire Navy" and said "much more must be done" to remedy the shortcomings.

The problems at the training center have raised new concerns in the Navy over the negative message it could send to new sailors.

"The standards there (at Orlando) will set the tone for a member's entire career in the Navy," wrote the service's chief of technical training in response to the inspector general's report, which was circulated to Navy officials.

The criticism of the Orlando training center, however, has been particularly embarrassing for the Navy because it assigned one of its highest-ranking female officers to command the base and its schools.

Disher said the training center commander, Rear Adm. Louise C. Wilmot, "has been in the forefront ... in her efforts to decrease incidents of sexual harassment, abuse and assault," but he said "this report indicates that much more must be done in Orlando, within the Naval Education and Training Command, and presumably, throughout the entire Navy."

In a written response to the inspector general's findings, Wilmot said, "I am always looking for better ways to improve the quality of life for our sailors and your recommendations have made positive impact on the center."

Rep. Beverly B. Byron, D-Md., chairman of the House Armed Services military personnel and compensation subcommittee, blamed the problems at the training center on "a breakdown in leadership and oversight of the leadership."

Byron received a copy of the report under a Navy policy that requires such reviews to be provided to Congress 24 hours before they are released to a journalist. The Navy released the report to The Post Friday.